Michigan Senate Votes To Expand Tax-Free Accounts for K-12 Expenses

Parents could use tax-free savings accounts to pay for students' school-related expenses including extracurricular activities under legislation that has cleared a divided Michigan Senate.

The Republican-led chamber approved the bills 23-14 Tuesday, with Democrats and some Republicans in opposition. The legislation goes to the House for consideration next.

It would create an expanded Michigan Education Savings Program, through which families currently contribute money tax-free to pay for college expenses.

The main bill sponsor, Republican Sen. Patrick Colbeck of Canton, says the contributions could pay for special education services, extracurricular activities currently not funded by schools and skilled trades preparation. He says they would help schools get additional funding.

Critics say the legislation is a tax break for the wealthy and would cost the state up to $100 million to implement.

A long-stalled movement to make it illegal to discriminate against LGBT people may gain traction — not in the Legislature but with a Michigan board that is being asked to declare that such discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations is already unlawful under state law.

One of the Rhodes Scholars named over the weekend is a recent Michigan State University graduate. The selection committee chooses 32 Scholars every year, and Clara Lepard is now just the 18th Rhodes Scholar in MSU history.

Some Michigan schools are working to reduce the use of suspensions and expulsions after being cited by the state for using the disciplinary measures on special education students of color more frequently than other groups.

Michigan needs to create more opportunities for kids of color. That’s according to advocates after a new report was released Tuesday. The report shows that African-American kids in Michigan fare worse in areas like education than in any other state.